Fishing report

*** - Richard Popowczak (Chain O' Lakes Sports) reports that the shallow areas of Pistakee Lake are giving up sheephead up to two pounds and many small white bass. The northwest side of Channel Lake is good for gills using waxies or spikes on a small jig. Bass on the chain are biting better than the walleyes. Best bait is a roach below a tip-up.

South suburban ponds

**** - Ponds have about 10 inches of ice and are giving up gills on small jigs with waxies or Gulp. Ken O'Malley (Mokena) says that the trick is lifting the bait slowly off the bottom. Tip ups with roaches are catching bass.

Cook County FPD Lakes

** - Wampum has good ice up to 9 inches thick. Pike are slow. Gills are suspended at 5 to 6 feet in 11 feet of water. Use waxies on small jigs. Try the west end of Saganashkee Slough for crappies.

Shabbona Lake

*** - Jay Angel (Jay Angel's Guide Service) reports that the ice is 12-14 inches thick and crappies up to 10 inches are biting well over the deeper brush piles and fish cribs.

Kankakee River

** - Most of the river is covered with ice says Ed Mullady (Sportsman's Letter). Many backwaters vary in ice thickness so use caution. Nice gills and bass are being caught through the ice at Black Oak Bayou in LaSalle LaSalle Fish and Wildlife Area east of the state line.

Willow Slough, Ind.

** - Patrick Schlomas (Tinley Park) found gill action slow but managed to catch a 30-inch pike on a tip-up.

Mississippi River, La Crosse Area, Wis.

**** - Crappies, gills, perch, pike and a few bass are being caught by the Lock and Dam No. 7 backwater. Ice is more than 12-inches thick. Best bait is a chartreuse jig with waxie. Pike are taking 5-inch shiners below a tip-up.

Boulder Junction Area, Wis.

**** - Janie Harpster (Northern Highland Sports) reports that ice on area lakes is more than 12-inches thick with no slush. Palmer, Big and Allequash Lakes offer very good crappie fishing using waxies on small jigs after 4 p.m. Walleyes are spotty but are being caught with minnows.

Compiled by Don Dziedzina from bait shops, avid anglers, and local and state resource reports.